Stopping distracted driving

A state lawmaker wants to modernize the definition of "distracted driving." Legislation from State Representative Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) would expand what behavior is considered distracting to drivers. The Sister Bay Republican says that's because the law hasn't been updated in nearly 25 years, and many current technologies aren't covered in it. As a result, police often have a hard time ticketing people for driving while using many modern devices.

The bill would ban the use of laptops, DVD players, and other video devices while driving. It does provide an exemption though for talking on a cell phone. However, using a cell phone for e-mail, text messaging, or playing games would still allow a police officer to write a ticket for distracted driving.

The legislation also protects the use of GPS navigation devices. Bies says they have to be mounted in the dashboard of the car or attached to it somehow.